After the miscarriage, I walked down the sterile hospital corridor and accidentally overheard my husband, Toby, speaking to the doctor. “Find an opportunity to drug my wife,” he said, his voice a low, cold command. “Then I want her uterus removed. I want to make sure she can never get pregnant again.” A moment later, he placed a gentle hand on another woman's stomach. “Design the best possible prenatal care plan for her. I want her child to be the heir to Lockwood Industries.” I recognized the woman. Skylar. A popular streamer from Toby’s company. Then he added a final, chilling instruction to the doctor. “And one more thing. Make sure my wife has a perfect recovery. If she suffers any long-term complications from this surgery, none of you will have a job.” My heart stuttered in my chest. I couldn't believe it. Toby, the man who had always worshipped the ground I walked on, was cheating on me. And so, I left a signed divorce agreement on the table and walked away, leaving them to their perfect love story… 1 The walk back to my room was a blur. My mind was a broken record, playing that horrifying scene on a loop. My husband, the man who treated me like a precious jewel, who loved me to the bone, was having an affair and had just ordered a surgeon to mutilate my body. And he knew. He knew that more than anything in this world, I wanted a child. A young nurse passing by gave me an envious smile. "Your husband is just the best," she gushed. "He booked this entire floor just so you could rest without being disturbed. He hired a private nursing staff to look after you around the clock. And even with all that, he refuses to leave your side for a second. Talk about being head over heels in love." Another nurse chimed in. "His eyes were swollen shut from crying when you were brought in. I've never seen a man care so much. I heard they were college sweethearts, and he moved his entire family's business empire to this city just to marry her. He even put his fortune in her name." If I had heard this yesterday, I would have felt like the luckiest woman alive. Now, it felt like I'd swallowed ash. Just then, Toby's furious voice erupted from my room down the hall. "A bunch of useless idiots! You can't even watch one person! If anything happens to Christy, I'll kill every single one of you!" Toby rarely lost his temper. The last time was when I was diagnosed with a rare illness that no hospital seemed able to cure. He’d been so frantic he’d nearly torn the hospital apart, even vowing he’d die with me if they couldn't save me. I watched the veins bulge on his forehead, but this time, his rage didn't touch my heart. "Toby," I said calmly. "I'm right here." His head snapped toward me, and his eyes lit up. He rushed over, pulling me into his arms. "Christy, where did you go? You didn't tell anyone. I thought something had happened to you." His voice trembled with what sounded like genuine fear. There was no trace of falsehood in it. I subtly pushed him away. "It was stuffy in the room. I just went out for some air." He breathed a sigh of relief, though his grip on my hand remained tight. He then took a bowl of dark, bitter-smelling liquid from a nurse and brought it to my lips with a tender smile. "Darling, it's time for your medicine." I stared at the brown concoction, a chill running down my spine as the scene I’d just witnessed flashed through my mind. "It's too bitter. I don't want to drink it." Toby had never, ever denied me anything. But this time, he was strangely insistent. "You won't get better if you don't take it. And you won't be able to have our baby. Don't you want to give me a child?" He knew the baby was my weak spot. He was certain that dangling it in front of me would make me obey. But I didn't trust him anymore. I slapped the bowl out of his hand. "I said, I'm not drinking it." Toby's gentle expression froze, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes. I thought I had won, that I had escaped. But in the next second, the world went black. When I woke up, it was morning. A terrible premonition washed over me. I threw back the covers. There it was. A fresh surgical scar sliced across my lower abdomen. My world came crashing down. I wanted to scream at him, to demand an explanation, but he was already speaking, his voice full of concern. "Darling, you fainted last night. The doctors ran some tests and... they found cancerous cells in your uterus. I had them remove it immediately." As if anticipating my disbelief, he produced a pathology report. And there it was, in black and white: uterine cancer. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have fallen for his lie. I stared at the hideous scar, my heart feeling like it had been ripped in two. There was nothing left but a vast, empty despair. Toby pulled me into a hug, his voice soft with sympathy. "Christy, I know how much you wanted a child, but your health is what matters most. I can't lose you. We can always adopt, darling. It'll be okay." 2 I opened my mouth to speak, but the door swung open and Skylar walked in, carrying a basket of fruit. "So sorry to interrupt," she said with a bright, professional smile. "I'm here on behalf of the company to wish Mrs. Lockwood a speedy recovery." Skylar was the new star streamer for Lockwood Entertainment. She was gorgeous, with a perfect figure and a captivating personality that earned the company millions with every broadcast. No wonder Toby was taken with her. Toby’s expression didn't change. He gave Skylar a curt nod before turning his full attention back to me. But I knew that beneath the calm surface, a storm was raging. I turned my back to them, burying my face in the pillow. "I'm tired," I mumbled. "I want to rest." I expected Skylar to leave, but she stayed, taking a seat and keeping a silent vigil with Toby. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently massaging my legs, the picture of a doting husband. Skylar sat quietly nearby, a model of decorum. It was a scene of perfect domestic harmony. But no one could see what was happening beneath the sheets. No one could see Skylar's leg, slyly, rhythmically, brushing against Toby’s. He didn't pull away. He let her, his face a mask of placid concern. Only when her movements became more brazen did he reach down and place a firm hand on her thigh, a silent command to stop. But Skylar wasn’t deterred. She moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling against his back like a cat. Toby’s eyes flicked to me. He checked my breathing, saw my closed eyes, and assumed I was asleep. Emboldened, he spun around, pushed Skylar against the nearby table, and kissed her, his hand gripping her throat. He broke away quickly, his eyes cold, a warning for her to behave. She met his gaze without fear and wound herself around him again. Toby’s resolve crumbled. After one last glance at me, he took her hand and led her out of the room. The moment the door clicked shut, I opened my eyes. Toby would never know that every single one of their sordid movements was perfectly reflected in the glass partition, playing out for me like a silent, horrifying movie. I slipped out of bed and followed them to a secluded corner of the hallway. Hiding behind a pillar, I peeked out. Toby had Skylar pinned against the wall, his hand once again at her throat. "I warned you to behave in front of Christy," he hissed, his voice laced with fury. Skylar wasn't afraid. She rubbed against his arm coquettishly. "That's only because you've been spending all your time with her. The baby misses you." She hooked her arms around his neck, her voice a seductive purr. "Toby, darling, haven't you always wanted to try it somewhere... adventurous? Let's do it here. There are no cameras on this floor, and your wife is fast asleep. No one will ever find out." Before he could answer, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. Toby froze for a second, then his hands went to the back of her head, deepening the kiss with a raw hunger. "Toby, be gentle," she whispered against his lips. "I'm worried about the baby..." "Shut up," he growled. "I know what I'm doing." I couldn't watch anymore. I fled, their moans and whispers chasing me down the hall. My heart felt like it was being physically torn apart, a pain so sharp it stole my breath. The man who swore he would only ever love me, who promised to cherish me for a lifetime, was having a secret, sordid affair. A wave of shame so powerful it threatened to drown me washed over me. My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor in a pathetic, laughable heap. 3 A passing nurse saw me and rushed over to help. Seeing the tears streaming down my face, she assumed I’d hurt myself in the fall. "Oh, Mrs. Lockwood, please don't cry," she said, her voice full of sympathy. "Mr. Lockwood would be devastated if he saw you like this." Looking at her concerned face, I could no longer contain my grief. The sobs wracked my body until I was empty and exhausted. I finally managed to drag myself back to my room and fall into a fitful sleep. When I woke up, Toby wasn't back yet, but Skylar was standing at the foot of my bed, her face a mask of contempt. The polite deference was gone. "You saw everything, didn't you?" she sneered. "He loves me. And I'm carrying his child." My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "How long?" I whispered, my voice trembling. Skylar held up three fingers, her smile triumphant. "Three years. He met me at a business dinner and fell for me instantly. We spent the whole first night together. When he went home, he felt so guilty that he transferred his entire fortune into your name. All of that was supposed to be for me and my baby. You're the one who stole it from us." I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, fighting the urge to lunge at her. Seeing my restraint, she grew bolder. "You think he really loves you? Every single night, after you fall asleep, he comes to me. Even now that I'm pregnant, he can't get enough. And just so you know, the day you had your miscarriage? He wasn't at a 'business dinner.' He was in my bed. He can't live without me now. If you have any sense, you'll divorce him and get out of the way." Her words hit me like a physical blow. I remembered that day. The pain had been so intense I’d passed out multiple times. I was losing so much blood. The doctor had called Toby ten times, but he never answered. Eventually, his phone was just off. When he finally came back the next day, he knelt by my bed for hours, telling me he was at a crucial meeting, hating himself for not being there, slapping his own face in punishment. While I was dying, he was with her. The last flicker of hope I had cherished died in that moment, leaving only cold, dead ash in its place. Skylar saw the defeat in my eyes and her smile widened. "He's throwing me a wedding tomorrow," she declared, her hands on her hips. "It's going to be even grander than yours was. Make sure you come." With that, she strutted out of the room like a victorious hen. A sharp pain shot through my chest, and the world went dark again. When I came to, it was the next morning. Toby was by my side, his eyes red and swollen. He pulled me into a fierce hug, his voice choked with emotion. "Christy, you're finally awake. You scared the hell out of me." The image of him with Skylar in the hallway flashed in my mind. A wave of nausea rolled over me, and I pushed him away. "I'm fine." Toby froze, a look of hurt in his eyes. I looked at his tear-filled face and finally asked the question that had been weighing on my heart for days. "Do you remember what I told you before we got married?" I had told him that if he ever fell in love with someone else, he had to tell me. I would step aside. But if he lied, if he deceived me, I would disappear from his life forever. He nodded without hesitation. "Of course I do. Why are you suddenly asking about this? Did I do something to upset you?" He stood up, his expression serious, and turned to the nurses behind him. "Get me a list of every woman I've had contact with recently. Bring them all here. Now." A short while later, my room was filled with more than a dozen women—nurses, maids, and among them, Skylar. She stood with one hand on her belly, her eyes full of triumphant mockery. Toby stood with his hands clasped behind his back. "Tell my wife," he commanded, his voice sharp, "exactly what contact you've had with me. Be specific." One by one, they reported. "Ma'am, the last time I spoke with Mr. Lockwood was to submit your new dietary plan." "Ma'am, he only called me to bring your aromatherapy diffuser from the house." "Ma'am, he saw your IV was running low and called me to change it." Everything was about me. The women looked at me with open envy. When it was Skylar's turn, she spoke calmly. "After I delivered the fruit basket yesterday, I had no further contact with Mr. Lockwood. You have nothing to worry about, Mrs. Lockwood. You're the only one in his heart." 4 Her words were meant to be reassuring, but they dripped with sarcasm. I let out a small, self-deprecating laugh and waved them all away. With his name seemingly cleared, Toby relaxed and sat on the edge of the bed, taking my hand. "Christy," he said, his voice earnest. "You know I only love you. I would never be interested in another woman." "Mm-hmm," I said, pulling my hand from his, ignoring the flicker of disappointment in his eyes. He seemed to remember something. "Oh, Christy, I have a business trip tomorrow, so I won't be here. But my phone will be on for you 24/7. Call me if you miss me." His declaration of love was flawless. Not a hint of deception. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and nodded. "Be safe." I saw the guilt flash in his eyes before he put on a pout. "But I'll miss you so much. It's only for a day, but I don't want to be away from you for a single second." He sighed dramatically. "When we adopt our child, I'll just hand the company over to him. Then I won't have to travel so much and be away from you." If I didn't know he was actually leaving to marry Skylar, I might have been moved by his performance. Finally, with one last, lingering kiss on my forehead, Toby left the room. The moment he was gone, I checked myself out of the hospital. I went home, packed a single bag, placed the signed divorce agreement on the living room table, and took a taxi to the airport. Before boarding the plane to Switzerland, I blocked his number and deleted him from every app. It was a final goodbye. As the plane took off, I watched through the window as the city I had called home for thirty years shrank below me. And for the first time in weeks, the crushing weight on my chest began to lift. Toby, goodbye forever.
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